Articles Posted inReport of Child Abuse

Many parents, grandparents, and even professionals do not fully understand their duty to report child abuse let alone the consequences for their failure to report. But what about such duty to report of just an ordinary person? That is right; ANYONE who has knowledge or reason to believe that a child is being abused in any way must report it to the appropriate agency. That agency would be the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, your local law enforcement and even your local district attorney’s office. The family code does not exclude anyone in the duty to report. Examples of professionals would be teachers, attorneys, doctors, nurses, and daycare employees.

Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code encompasses the duty to report, definitions, etc. Once you have determined what abuse or neglect means in Texas, and you know a child who is being subjected to such acts, you must report it. Unfortunately, many of the cases we see are children being sexually or physically abused. Once you learn of this abuse, what do you need to do?

Texas Family Code Section 261.101 legislates and defines those who are required to report as follows: